When we arrived at Signal, our landing had us greeted by the welcoming party. All in the party were given flower crowns, something that the snakes among us couldn't comprehend.

"Why are sssstrangers adorning usssss with flora?" Narin inquired.

"Flowers are colourful and cause contrast. Easy to see, smell pleasant, and scientifically proven to improve mood. It's to help you relax and make you feel welcome." I explained.

"I ssssee... a gift of ssssomething pleassssant to make the target lower their defenssssessss, gain trusssst. Clever..." She replied. I merely sighed and shook my head.

"In any case, Signal is known for it's white sand beaches where you can sunbathe, it's varied cuisine, and it's.... um... large groups of diamond dogs filling the town square? That's abnormal. There's even a dragon or two among them." Including one I recognize.

From across the plaza, on the direct opposite side of the crowd, Mayor Bluebeak waved to us, motioning us to come inside his office. Thankfully, since everyone in our group could fly except Seth, who would be starting lessons soon, we simply went over the crowd.

"I'm glad you arrived." He began. "Around a month ago, there was only one or two, but since the summit, they began pouring in."

"Wha, how'd they get here so fast? I only said that about a day ago. It would take time for word to spread, and then for them to travel here..."

"Apparently, a fair number of them were already coming for that very reason, before you made the announcement."

"That's... oddly coincidental. I was certain I'd be back from the Quetzal Empire before it happened."

"Well, they started showing up as soon as the arena was finished being built. They heard about how anyone in the New Dominion who has a problem with someone else can challenge them in the arena and immediately began making their way here.

"Dad, what are you talking about?" Seth piped up from his position atop his mother's back.

"Bunch of people want to fight me."

"You gonna kill em?" That question has no place coming from the mouth of a bright eyed child.

"Hope not."

"K."

"My apologies Empress. It seems I'll have to take care of a bit of business while we're here."

"Not at all. It will grant me an opportunity to obssserve how you conduct yourssself."

"Attention everyone. I know you've all come a long way, and have been waiting a while, but I just came back from a really boring meeting and I'd like to get some rest. By the way, this is Empress Narin and her bodyguards. I know we try to make everyone feel welcome, but I'd like you to give her some space. She's not accustomed to this sort of thing. So, relax for tonight, eat some good food, get some sleep, throw a party, whatever, I'll start sorting this out tomorrow. I'm letting you know ahead of time that we're under constant watch. If anybody gets any stupid ideas, make sure you shout 'Shoop-be-doo' before you land in the ocean so the sea ponies will rescue you. You came all this way for a reason, don't go wasting your opportunity."

Nods and murmurs of agreement filled the plaza as the group began to disperse. They set up tents outside of town where they camped out for the night, unless they were fortunate enough to have gotten a place in one of the hotels.

"We'll can stay at the beach house tonight." Chrysalis suggested. "Rest easy."

We gathered at the table and sat down for dinner, and a more in depth discussion of politics and social norms.

"Tell me more about your relationshipssss." Narin asked.

"Hmm.... well, traditionally, among griffins, usually there's a single male to a number of females. Among ponies, they used to have multiple males and females in a large familial group, kind of similar to how you quetzals operate, but that has mostly been phased out in favor of single pairings nowadays. Humans are mostly single pairings as well. Changelings, on the other hand... uh. wanna handle this one?" I motioned to the love bug on my left who was currently under my wing.

"Since our... reproduction... occurs differently than other species, we are free to 'pair' with any partners we so choose. Almost the entire hive is technically female, though sterile, though most prefer to select one gender identity or the other and stick with it. Only the queens are strictly female, and only the few males which provide genetic material are strictly male. Then another select few which act as batteries for stored energy which are physically larger and stronger than other changelings don't have any gender identity."

"Wait, are you talking about those behemoth things at the Canterlot wedding? You were really ticked off that I killed them." I asked.

"Hold a moment." Narin interjected. "What happened at thissss wedding?"

"Oh, I tried to conquer Equestria. Almost did it too, but I failed."

"Why would a sssspeciesssss adept as camouflage rissssk open conflict?"

"It was an act of desperation. We had run out of stored love energy for food. The batteries were drained."

"I sssseeee."

"In any case, since we're shape shifters, in terms of... physical relationships, anyone can be with anyone. It just wouldn't make any offspring. So, for changelings, that sort of thing is at the same level as say, having dinner. We still get the physical pleasure of the act, but we're a lot less stringent about it since for us, it's basically a really good meal. Of course, because of this, other species see us as overly promiscuous and lewd, but since in the New Dominion that sort of this is more accepted it's not really a problem. In terms of both friendliness, familial and physical relationships, It's the best feeding ground we've ever had. To think if it had started a few years prior we'd likely have tried invading here instead, except we probably wouldn't have had to. Still, I'm glad things turned out the way they did."

"What of dragon relationssshipssss?" Narin asked.

"I have no idea. Usually, whenever I meet with a dragon, it's either because I want to kill them, or they want to kill me, and I don't let them. Sitting down and discussing social standards isn't a priority when compared with stopping 'Trogdor the Burninator'."

Gilda, Seth, Chrysalis, Narin, and her two bodyguards all looked at me confused.

"Never mind. In any case, I don't know too much about diamond dog relationships either, other than that the stronger you are, the higher you are in terms of potential partners."

"Yet none have approached you regarding that?" The empress asked.

"I'm fairly certain that I'm considered an enemy by the entire species, other than those that live here. Thus the reason for the crowd earlier today. If anyone has an issue with anyone else, they settle it in the arena. Since quite a lot of diamond dogs have a problem with me, and I can't refuse any challenge, they all came here to try and get a piece of me."

"Ssssurely you cannot defeat them all."

"Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but if it does, then I will."

"Alright everyone. So, here's the deal. If I fight all of you one on one, this is going to take forever. So, I'm going to interview each of you. There are a lot of different reasons for wanting to fight me, so I'm going to split you up based on that in order to decide who gets to go first. Form a line."

"First, come on in." Looks like a soldier, wearing armor, carrying a sword and a shield. "Alright, why'd you come here?"

"To kill you." He replied.

"Why?"

"Glory, fame, recognition, power."

"Well, you must be confident. Now, I'm not going to try and convince you not to fight me. If you want to, I will, but I want you to know what you're getting into. You heard about Ancientwell, right? Several alphas, each with a small army, and the castle's garrison. It was a tie. Do you really think you're a better fighter than all of those combined?"

He seemed to grumble to himself.

"Didn't think so. Don't you have someone who loves you? Who will miss you when you're gone? Someone who would be miserable if you died?"

"My brother..."

"And yet you came here to throw your life away on a fight you know you can't win?"

He was still for a moment before grumbling to himself again.

"Okay. Group D. Next!"

"Why do you want to fight me?" I asked a dagger user in leather armor. Their form was hidden under their garb, but the figure and stride seemed distinctly female.

"Not fight, kill."

"Okay, why do you want to kill me."

"I know what you are. You may act calm and righteous now, but deep down you're an animal. How long until you break free of your chains again?"

"As long as you people stop coming after my family, I'll never become that again. They are my reason for living."

"And if they are lost, your rage and grief would turn the world to ash." She finished for me. "My family is dead because of you. Do you think I care less for them than you care for your own?"

"If you care for your family, as I care for mine, then you know I'd do anything to protect them. For me, ALL actions are justified if it means they're safe. Can you honestly say that were you in my position, you wouldn't have done the same?"

"And can you say that, we're our positions swapped, and it was I that killed your family, and was sitting calmly in that chair while you sat here, seething with rage as you explained yourself to me, that you could simply walk away?"

"I guess not."

"Then you have my reason."

"You know you'll probably die, right?"

"Then I'll join my family in death."

"Alright, group A. NEXT!"

The next one was a remarkable looking white knight kind of hound. Silver armor, carrying a long, bladed spear.

"Griffin North, I am here to bring you to justice for your crimes!" He proclaimed boisterously.

"Tell me, what is your name?"

"I am Phalanx, son of the great Chief Greywall, who you slew at Ancientwell. I will defeat you, avenge my father, and reclaim the pride of my people!"

"Oh! I remember him!"

"I thought you might. He was unmistakable. His death was mourned with a thousand howls, and Fia's treachery will never be forgotten, but now we are all one with the Nanashi. Aoi is a good leader, perhaps even as great as my father."

"He was an honorable person, and I regret having to kill him, but it was war, and he was a warrior. I will fight you if I must, but, before that, I have a question to ask."

"Ask, and I will answer." Phalanx replied.

"I never had a father, and you know the pain of losing one. What would happen to my son if he lost me? Would you have him grow up hating you, and years later, you'd be having this same conversation from the other side of this table?"

"I only wish to defeat you. If I do that, your power and influence will be broken. You will no longer be a threat to the people of this world, and you would serve the new king of this dominion as a loyal knight. A lifetime of service to atone for your sins."

I could not help but laugh.

"Phalanx, I like you. To even think that I could ever wash away the blood on my claws. You really are something special. I can't even put you in a group. You may be part of Aoi's clan now, but your people still look to you as a leader. If you lose, your people would be miserable. Hows about this. Once I'm done dealing with the others, I'll fight you any time you want, but in private. A few witnesses, no crowds. That way nobody has to see you lose. I'll enjoy keeping my claws sharp. How does that sound?"

"HA! That would be agreeable, but what makes you so certain I won't win?" He smiled as a haze of green magic coursed through his spear.

"Hehe, interesting. I think you're going to be a lot of fun. Next!"

This entry was one of the two dragons I had seen. This one was the familiar one. Their face was unmistakable.

"Hello, Garble."

"Uh... we haven't met."

"Yeah, but I've heard about you from Spike." That's a lie, he never told me about Garble, I just watched the show.

"Oh, well, I'm not here for the fight. Well, I am, but I just wanna watch. Wanted to get front row seats. Lots of rumors about you at the volcano. Wanted to check it out, you know? Amethyst is the other dragon out there. Don't know why she came along."

"Other dragons roped you into going, huh?"

"Pfft, whatever."

"So Thuwag was like, 'Garble's too scared to go see the griffin king. He's a big chicken!' And he got all ticked off, smoke started coming out of his ears and he was like 'I told you it's probably lame like the pony land but FINE, I'll go. You're all losers and I could use some time away to make sure I don't become lame like you guys.' I just came along cuz I was curious, and Garble's an idiot so he'd probably do something stupid if I don't keep an eye on him."

"Well Amethyst, it was nice to meet you. Feel free to stick around, just try and make sure Garble doesn't burn anything or eat anyone. Those are my jobs. Next!"

The next entry was not a single person, but a duo. They had no weapons, no armor. Just basic clothing. A husband and wife, it seemed. They didn't have the confidence or rage the others had. Instead, they seemed completely miserable.

"What have you two come here for?"

They stood there in silence, tears threatening the corners of their eyes.

"Our son, Lert, just a pup, died in the flood at Ancientwell. We were just miners. We had not part of that fight, and still... and still..." She shut her eyes tight, while he clenched his teeth. "I know I can't beat you, that I don't stand a chance, but I can't get it out of my head! I still see him, my poor boy, cold and limp in my arms, clutching his toy, wrapped in this blanket." He held out a tattered blue cloth that was covered in tear stains, and a small streak of blood across it. "I... I can't.... GAH! How can you just sit there! How can you live with yourself and not even offer an apology?!?"

"I see. I knew, when I caused that flood, that innocents might be caught in it. I did it for my family. To protect them, and to ensure that I'd make it out, to continue to protect them. I never wanted this to happen, but I won't apologize. Apologizing means that I'm asking for forgiveness, and asking for forgiveness means I think I deserve it. If you're able to forgive the death of your son, for nothing more than mere words of regret, then you are nothing less than angels and just standing in your presence is torment."

The pair looked at me, seemingly shocked by my explanation, before the husband gently placed the tattered blanket and a scratched yoyo on the table in front of me. He locked his eyes, full of pain and hate, with mine. "Live with your guilt." He spat. Then he wrapped his arms around his wife and they left.

I picked up the artifacts and let out a long sigh. I carefully wrapped the yoyo in the blanket, then folded it all up and put in in my storage box. I sat back down, and clutched the sides of my head, gently scratching and massaging my scalp with my claws.

"Next."

Author's Notes:

TROGDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR
TROGDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR

Burninating the countryside
Burninating the peasants.

Also. Griffin is supposed to be a Canadian, but "I never wanted this to happen, but I won't apologize"
GASP! It's a lie! Everything we knew is gone!

No, but seriously, one day, Canada will take over the world, and then everyone will be 'sorry'.
Get it? Because then everyone would be a Canadian and Canadians are always apologiz...... SORRY, I ruined the joke, didn't I?

And the familiar dragon. After the last chapter, everyone is all like 'OMG is Ember oh shit's gonna go down now oh wait no it's just Garble.